Texaco Inc.

Kevin Rush Bowlin

Howard L McKinzie

Lon A Stuebinger

Carlos W Pardo

James R Stoy

Billy W Surles

An improved method to detect water influx using video monitoring of a cased wellbore is disclosed. A wireline well tool having a video camera and a light source is lowered into a selected borehole interval where water influx is suspected. The borehole fluid over the selected interval is displaced and replaced with either a water transparent mixture containing a viscosifying agent, a coloring agent and/or sufficient salt to increase mixture density; or a transparent water insoluble solvent. By use of either of these displacement fluids, the quality of video monitoring over the selected borehole interval for water influx, is enhanced.

Water influx identification

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for selectively lifting produced fluids, including produced hydrocarbons and a portion of produced water, to a ground surface while injecting the remaining produced water into an injection zone subsurface in a subterranean well. The invention preferably utilizes an electrical submersible progressive cavity pump (ESPCP) in conjunction with an electrical submersible pump (ESP) in order to carry out the dual injection and lifting steps. Further, this apparatus and method make it possible to produce hydrocarbons from oil wells in a manner that poses less risk and disturbance to the environment.

Dual injection and lifting system using an electrical submersible

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for reducing lifting costs in a producing hydrocarbon well by injecting produced water into a set of injection perforations located lower in the well borehole from a set of production perforations. A plunger pump and a cage-ball valve system are placed above a production packer which is located between the production and injection perforations. The valve system and pump are arranged to take produced water from above the packer and pump into the injection perforations only on the downstroke of the rod string activated plunger pump.

Method and apparatus for reducing gas well production costs using

Methods for completing and producing hydrocarbon from a well having a highly permeable production formation having a water zone and a hydrocarbon zone are disclosed. In the disclosed techniques a cased well borehole is cemented in place through the production formation. A packer is set in the casing to isolate the hydrocarbon zone from the water zone. Perforations in the water zone and in the hydrocarbon zone produce a mixture of both fluids into the casing/tubing annulus at different bottom hole pressures (FBHP's) due to the installation of a flow restriction limiting the flow of either hydrocarbon or water into the tubing string. Artificial lift means are used to produce the fluid mixture to the surface.

Well completion and production techniques

This invention relates to enhanced oil recovery (EOR) techniques for improving the production economies and recovery efficiency of hydrocarbons from a reservoir after primary depletion has occurred. The reservoir has at least two production strata. At least one production well capable of producing fluids from both strata is placed into the reservoir. At least one injection well capable of injecting fluid into both strata is placed in the reservoir. At least one combination production/injection well for producing well fluid from only one of the strata is placed into the reservoir. The produced well fluid is separated into a mostly hydrocarbon component and a mostly water component in place downhole and reinjecting into the other of said strata the mostly water component by use of the combination production/injection well.

Enhanced oil recovery technique

A method and apparatus for the downhole disposal of the water component of production fluid while using gas lift techniques to lift the hydrocarbon component to the surface is disclosed. Separation of the hydrocarbon component and the water component takes place downhole by gravity in an annulus formed between the well casing and a tubing string. The water component may be disposed of or utilized to carry out a water-flood of either overlying or underlying subterranean formations. As a result, the lifting, handling and disposal of the water component of the production fluid on the surface is minimized.

Downhole disposal of well produced water using pressurized gas

An apparatus for the downhole production of hydrocarbons. The apparatus includes a first pump coupled to a second pump. The first pump is powered by injection fluid contained in the tubing string; thus, eliminating the need for electrical connection cables or rotating rods. Typically, the second pump is powered by the first pump. The apparatus is capable of simultaneous injection and hydrocarbon production in a single wellbore. The coupling of the first and second pumps may further include a cross-over piece wherein the injection fluid and hydrocarbon production bypass one another.

Coupled downhole pump for simultaneous injection and production in an

A system for improving the economics of production by reducing lifting costs of a producing well utilizes the upstroke of a pump to produce a fluid mixture of primarily oil with only a fraction of the produced water and the downstroke to inject the remaining produced water beneath a packer into a lower formation.

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Sugar Land, TX, United States of America

Kevin Rush Bowlin